Twilight and Rarity finally made it to the rendezvous point. Assassins stood in an empty street behind a blacksmith shop. They were chatting and discussing about the heroic rescue they had just accomplished. Fluttershy was also talking with the other Assassins. In their midst sat Octavia. She held her head low and Twilight could not see her face since it was still behind the black mask. Her hands were still bound.
"Really? You haven't freed her yet?" Twilight asked the Assassins.
They all stopped their chatter and turned to the Bearer. Some of them rubbed the backs of their necks as they did not answer. Twilight rolled her eyes and walked over to the Den Master. She then lifted her up to her feet and dusted her off.
"Good to see you again, Den Master. Here let me get those off."
Twilight broke the shackles off with her magic. Octavia still remained silent. The Bearer of Magic raised a brow at her. Twilight gently grabbed the mask and took it off Octavia's face. The Den Master had a stern and angry look on her face. Her breathing became heavier and jaw tightened. The Bearer was confused.
"Uhh....Octavia? You don't look to..."
Twilight was cut off as Octavia punched her across the face. The force knocked the Bearer to the ground. Twilight's vision was blurred and her head spun. As she regained focus, she touched her lips to reveal blood. She got up and turned to the Den Master who was being restrained by the other Assassins.
"Octavia? What was that for?"
Octavia spat at the Bearer. "That was for Vinyl! You bitch!"
"What? What did I do to Vinyl?"
"You let her go out alone! She was a Sister without Brothers. And she died because you weren't there to help her!"
"She left without our knowing. We did not even know of her death until you said so."
"And that's not all! You....You let me live. I had made peace with myself after all these years of death and murder. With Vinyl gone, I have no reason to live. I wanted death and you took that from me." Her yelling was turning into incoherent sobs.
"She's delirious!" An Assassin yelled.
"How ungrateful." Rarity grunted.
Twilight was speechless. Octavia was crying and sobbing right in front of her. She didn't know what to do or how to comfort the Den Master. What had happened? This was not the Octavia she trained and taught. She stammered before ordering the Assassins.
"Take her....Take her to the Den."
The Assassins bowed and turned to the south. They dragged the Den Master as she refused to walk on her own. It was painful to watch. Twilight was beginning to question the reality around her. This couldn't be, she thought. The Bearer then felt a hand on her shoulder.
"She'll be fine. She's simply going to a tough time." Rarity assured the Bearer of Magic.
Twilight sighed. "I hope you're right."
Twilight looked around the Den. "Where did you put her?"
An Assassin pointed towards the testing room. "Oh, Bearer, she is in the back. She tried to escape so we had to lock her in there."
Twilight walked over to the door and stopped before opening it. How should she do this? Some of her wanted to yell at the Den Master for her weakness. People died, and in the Brotherhood, it was common. No, that wouldn't work. She had to take a different approach, one she rarely used. She gulped and opened the door.
The testing room was dark and damp. The only light came from the few candles in the corners. By a candle sat the Den Master. In the light, Twilight could see that Octavia was holding Vinyl's mask. She lifted her eyes and looked at the Bearer.
"From one bloody prison to the next." She muttered.
Twilight remained silent. She hesitated before walking up to the Den Master. Octavia merely gazed at her with indifference. Twilight then sat next to her. The only light was the candle next to them. Octavia returned her gaze to the mask. Twilight began to pick at the specks of dirt on the ground. After some silence, Twilight spoke.
"You know, we have sat like this before. It was on the day I met you, on top of the tower. We sat like this, looking at the stars. I can picture it now like it was yesterday."
"That was also the day that I told you my purpose. I didn't join the Brotherhood for your Creed, but for Vinyl."
"Yes, I remember that. It was one of the reasons I picked you. You not only had skill and heart, but you were a true friend. Something that I and my Element admire."
"Your Elements, they're the cause for all of this."
"Maybe, but this is not about Us, but about you."
"Here to lecture me on my misbehavior?"
"No, not at all. I must tell you, I have also lost friends, family. I know how it feels. You just want to give up."
"It's not fair. Why was it her?"
"Fate? I do not know how this world operates. If we did, we would not be needed."
"How can this world be so cruel? She's my only friend. We fought, we thought, we were sisters. Now separated.
"She's watching. She always will. You were her friend also. I am sure she feels the same way."
"I....My promise to her....I did neither. I didn't protect her, and I wasn't at her side. It was my fault."
"It's no one's fault. Vinyl was trying to save you, she gave her life for you. This grants you a purpose."
"Ha. What purpose would that be?"
"To honor her memory. To fulfill her wish for Equestria."
"Her wish was your wish; she wanted Equestria to be in Harmony. She wanted the Templar gone."
"Then the best thing you can do for her would be to complete that task."
"It still seems so wrong..."
"And it always will. The first thing you can do is to avenge her. Who killed her?"
"Spitfire."
"There you go. If Vinyl and you were switched at the moment, she wouldn't be here mourning, she would be out there fighting. That was her dream, to be something bigger. It's only right if she can still fight, fight through you. But it is your choice, Octavia."
Octavia did not reply. She simply looked down at the mask. Twilight could not tell what was going through her mind. Did she sound like she was manipulating her Den Master? She hoped not. This was Octavia's choice, even though abandonment was not allowed in the Brotherhood. The Den Master sighed and lifted her eyes.
"Fine. I'll do this Vinyl. But only Vinyl. Not for you, not for the Creed, not even for this bloody Empire."
"So be it."
"I must tell you, the Templar have plans, plans much bigger than before. The Crystal Republic marches on Ponyville as we speak. Sunset Shimmer said so herself."
"That is grave news. We better be off."
Twilight stood up and started to walk away. Octavia grabbed her ankle and stopped her. The Bearer turned around to see the cause for the interruption.
"Twilight, I have no weapons. They were left in the Old Dungeon. A falchion, my wrist blades, my knives, everything. I have nothing to fight with."
"Well Den Master, if what you say is true, then those weapons would do you no good in large fight. You'll need something better. Lyra has been busy in your absence. She has something for you."
"Can I ask one favor of you?"
"Of course."
"Find my friend's body. I know it's out there. She should have proper farewell."
Twilight hesitated before answering. "Will do. Get some rest."
"I will not Bearer. I want to go to Ponyville. I want to protect it."
"You're a Den Master here, Octavia. I'll fin..."
She gritted her teeth. "No, I will go to Ponyville."
"Fine. But take Fluttershy with you."
Octavia let go of Twilight's ankle and slowly stood up. Twilight bowed at the Den Master before leaving the testing room. She left the door open as Octavia did not follow. Twilight then made her way to the Bearer's quarters. Rarity and Fluttershy were inside gossiping and Spike was sleeping on the bed. Twilight ignored them and leaned over the table. The Crystal Republic? Why were they assaulting Ponyville? Now that she had time to think about it, Octavia's words made no sense. The Republic was not a Templar controlled nation. Their armies wouldn't follow the orders of Sunset Shimmer. There was something wrong here.
"Are you really a princess, Twilight?" The Bearer of Kindness asked.
Twilight turned and glared at Fluttershy. Fluttershy's beaming face slowly turned into an uneasy expression. Rarity rolled her eyes at Twilight's reaction. The Bearer of Magic sighed.
"Yes, I am, so what?"
"Well....I wouldn't think we'd ever have royalty am.."
"I AM NOT ROYALTY!" Twilight screamed.
Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind Rarity. Spike awoke with a start. Twilight felt sweat sliding down her temple. She did not mean for such a backlash, especially at Fluttershy. In her anger she slammed her fist on the table, making loose parchments fly off. Rarity crossed her arms.
"No need for such anger, darling. She was simply making an observation."
"No observation needed, Rarity. You don't need to talk about such things."
"I don't see the problem, darling. You are a princess, why would you keep it a secret?"
"Because. The others simply don't need to know. I don't care if we are Bearers. So drop it."
"Is this why you are so protective of the Sisters? I mean, they don't exactly line up with Harmony or the Creed."
Twilight grunted in growing anger. "Rarity, you are on thin ice. The Sisters are important to our cause, you and your Element know this."
"Yes, but only so far. Don't you think they have ruled for too long?"
"No. We are not here to other throw the government; we are here to establish Harmony."
"What if the Sisters refuse our Harmony? What then? Do we say, 'oh, phooey, it was all for nothing' and move on?" She mocked.
"No. Rarity stop. Just stop. Listen to your Element for once, and maybe you'll see."
Rarity cocked her head. "All I see is our leader, the great Bearer of Magic herself, keeping secrets from the rest of us."
Twilight pointed at the door. "Get out. Both of you."
Rarity shrugged in a mocking fashion. She then grabbed Fluttershy's hand and led her out.
"Come along dear, we should let Twilight alone and apparently rethink our lives." She said sarcastically.
Twilight slammed the door with her magic once they were out. She sighed and fell in a chair beside the table. She was tired. Twilight rubbed her face with her hand, slightly regretting what she had just done. She heard Spike sigh from the bed.
"The Bearers of Harmony are certainly demonstrating Harmony."
Twilight gritted her teeth. "I don't need your sarcasm."
"Maybe you do. You told me of your princess background. Why not them?"
"Because I fear what the Brotherhood would do. Spike, you must realize that the Assassins are made up of the poor, the downtrodden, the beggars, the farmers. I do not belong in their ranks. They will either start treating me like royalty, or reject me because I have no reason to be here. It's better for them to not know."
Spike shook his head. "That can't be all."
"It is all I will tell you. I could spend hours telling you the reason why."
"You need to stop treating me like I won't understand."
"I wish I could. But you won't. You don't know how it is to have a family. To lose one. I just found you on the street. Homeless, orphaned, covered in scars. No, you won't understand."
"Fine, be that way. But I do have family, Twilight. You are my sister. Remember that."
Spike got up off the bed and exited the quarters. Twilight cursed. This day began so well, and now look where it had gone. She rose from her chair and gazed at all the documents that rested on the table. She must get back to work.
"Twilight, what are you doing?"
"I don't want to talk right now."
"I haven't talked with you all day. This is the right time to talk."
"Do you have some way for me to mute you?"
"Ha, no. Now, you don't have to be so tight up about this. They will understand. They always do."
"You seem to talk with experience."
"I do. Do you really believe that you are the first Bearers with trouble? I have seen this many times. Harmony is not easy, not even among the tightest of friends. Harmony takes time and effort. If it didn't, it would not be worth it."
"Why did you pick me? You knew this would happen right?"
"I cannot see into the future, Twilight. I picked you because I knew I could guide you to be a leader. We Elements cannot communicate through the air. We must trust each other to get the best Bearer possible. We have never failed once."
"I doubt that. You had another reason. I know it. I bloody know it. You picked me to prove your point."
"Then you are. Just know what I say is true, Twilight."
"I think I'll get some rest."
Twilight walked over to her bed. The sun was falling behind the western mountains. It had been a long day and night had not even arrived. She touched the sheets. They were still warm from Spike sleeping on them. She laid herself on the bed. Her intention was not to sleep, but to simply contemplate. She had returned her protégé. Though she did not know if Octavia had retained her strength and courage or if she halted her pursuits for answers. Answers. That was what Fluttershy and Rarity wanted now. Twilight could still not understand why they were so inquisitive about it. Even with all of that, the Crystal Republic was headed south to Ponyville. She had to make a decision fast. If the Templar were truly behind such an attack, it could lead to an all-out war between the nations. Twilight sighed as she considered these things. She thought she was thinking of everything. In reality, she had forgotten about the Den Master's request. She had forgotten about Vinyl.
~